Wireless robot could rescue people trapped underground

The project, dubbed Wireless Underground Robots for First Responders (WURFR), is a collaborative effort between WFS Defense and Allen-Vanguard and marks the first attempt to fully integrate WFS’s wireless technology into a commercial robotic platform.

‘The WURFR system integrates the latest developments in resilient communications from WFS with Allen-Vanguard’s highly mobile Digital Vanguard remotely operated vehicle,’ said Martin Lawrance, Allen-Vanguard’s technical director.

WFS Defense’s newly improved Terratooth wireless communication system will enable the development of a remote-control robot that can communicate more effectively in tunnels, collapsed buildings and sewerage networks — a capability that would make it particularly useful to the emergency services and rescue teams.

‘Current generations of unmanned vehicle “robots” available to first responders for search and investigation tasks in post-disaster and other high-threat situations rely on conventional radio communications for control and situational awareness,’ said Lawrance.

In circumstances when conventional radio communication systems are ineffective because the operating frequency is too high, a cable tether (made from copper or optical fibre) is used to achieve the required operating range. ‘This imposes a significant additional burden on the operator, who must avoid damaging the tether when manoeuvring,’ added Lawrance.